Name of Lesson: Toondoo: Using Comic Strips to Teach Languages

Author: Dr. Shaoyu Chi, Lead Instructor, Chinese NOVASTARTALK and Instructional Designer, Northern Virginia Community College, Extended Learning Institute
Photo (Thumbnail/Screenshot)
Toondoo.jpg
Unit/Theory
_x Presentation Tools
_ Audio Tools
_ Video Tools
_ Collaborative Tools
_ Online Resources / Social Media
Objective
At the end of the lesson, participants will be able to
  • Show how to use Toondoo comic strips in language teaching
  • Show students how to make their own target language comic strips
  • Choose from characters, props and backgrounds to create a cartoon image/strip
  • Upload images to create characters, props and backgrounds for a cartoon image/strip
  • Create own characters, props and backgrounds for a cartoon image/strip
  • Create multi-language texts for a cartoon image/strip
  • Edit characters, props and backgrounds for a cartoon image/strip
  • Embed a cartoon image/strip in a website, wikis, blogs, etc.
  • Share, email, tag a cartoon image/strip
  • Conduct discussions about a cartoon image/strip online
Standards Addressed
Communication: Interpretive, Presentational
Culture: Use culturally-appropriate images and situations, create scenarios to encourage target language discussions
Web URL
www.toondoo.com
Skill Level
_ Novice
_x_ Beginner
_x Intermediate
_x
Advanced
Materials
Internet access, access to toondoo.com
Multingual Keyboards
Prerequisites
  • basic use of Internet
  • how to copy and paste
  • how to save a file
  • how to download a file
  • how to upload a file
  • how to create folders
  • how to send an email attachment
Time for Completion
5 hours
User Track
_x__ Teacher
_x_ Teacher Developer
Activity Management for Faculty
Developers
  • show a sample cartoon image/strip created using Toondoo
  • brainstorm with users about how they can use the product in their classrooms
  • show the online tutorials
  • have participants create their own cartoon images/strips
  • have participants share their cartoon images/strips online
Keywords
cartoon, comic book, character, technology, presentation

Written Instructions
We will use Toondoo to create cartoon images or comic strips (book) to communicate ideas creatively, to teach a concept, or to discuss a current event. Comics are effective for the teaching of sequencing and storytelling. This assignment lends itself to team work and helps students perfect their narration skills in the target language.

Tutorial Contents: a step-by-step online video tutorial to demonstrate to the participants how to:
  • sign up for Toondoo
  • to register to open an Toondoo account.
  • sign in to Toondoo character
    • to use Toondoo Maker
      • to select a layout
      • to choose a character
      • to choose a pop
      • to choose a background
      • to insert a clipart image
      • to enter texts
    • to use ImagineR
      • to upload an image from your computer
      • to grab an image on the Internet
      • to rotate an image
      • to flip an image
      • to goofify an image
    • to use TraitR
      • to choose from among a variety of facial features, body parts, clothes and accessories to create your own character
    • to use TraitR
      • draw your own character
    • to use BookMaker
      • to make a new comic book
    • to embed the image or the book in a website, a blog, etc
    • to email the image
Attachments
a pdf file to show the detailed step-by-step procedures of the tutorial
Video Lesson

Several video clips will be included in Presentation Tools Unit

Related URLs

Toondoo Spaces is an online environment where institutions can keep their collections of Toondoos safe and secure:
http://www.toondoospaces.com/

Toondoo's Info on Multiple Languages:
http://toondoo.wiki.zoho.com/Multiple-Languages.html

Typeit.org: Easy typing in Western languages. Cut and paste your comic text from here:
http://www.typeit.org/

LCTL Keyboards to type in less-commonly-languages:
http://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/index.htm